⁹Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

As I browse scripture to see what it says about contentment, I landed in Ecclesiastes. The wise teacher’s perspective is challenging for sure.

I don’t go shopping very often and I go to a mall even less. A couple of weeks ago, I ended up in the mall. There is no faster way to create discontent in my heart than shopping at the mall. Suddenly, I was painfully aware of my need for new things — shoes, clothes, bags, phones, gadgets, jewelry, books — everything I saw. My things were used and tattered and certainly not the latest style. I felt frumpy.

I hurried through the store without buying a single thing. I guess maybe I am old enough to know that the newer, nicer thing isn’t going to bring me joy.

There are so many ways to shop these days which translates to me as so many ways to dream about things I don’t have. According to the Teacher, that is as profitable as chasing the wind.

Have you ever chased the wind? If not, why not? Does it seem like wasted effort? Just as I would become tired and discouraged chasing the wind, so dreaming of things I don’t have breeds discouragement. Let the wind go where it wants and be content with what you have. If you do, you will have time and energy to do what really matters!